Beaumont, Texas remains on the site of the first oil gusher and was the original oil boomtown. Vast fortunes were made overnight when black gold was discovered. Wildcatters and workers flocked to the area until the shallow oil reserves played out. Since then, the city has evolved into a town loosely divided by both money and race. Modest homes, churches and supporting businesses were rapidly constructed many years ago for port and petroleum plant workers. Those with money continue to move to the suburbs or larger cities. What remains of the original urban areas has fallen into disrepair, poverty and crime. For many, the only legitimate routes of escape are education, sports, rap music and the military.

Beaumont resident Darline Williams talks about the murder of her family in 1997. Her sister, 9-year-old niece and mother were killed.